Real Madrid Removes Cross from Its Logo to Respect Muslims

The top-ranked football team in Spain, Real Madrid, has removed a Christian cross from its official logo in a bid to respect its Muslim fans in Europe and the Middle East. According to Spain’s top sports newspaper, Marca, the change was made to “avoid any form of confusion or misinterpretation in a region where the majority of the population is Muslim.”

According to Real Madrid, “This is a decisive and strategic step that will enhance the popularity of this institution in the Middle East and Asia, a key region in which the passion for this club has been apparent. Real Madrid and the Government of Ras al-Khaimah want to transmit the passion of Real Madrid and what it means throughout the world.”
As part of the agreement, however, the ruler of Ras al-Khaimah, Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr al Qasimi, required Real Madrid to remove the cross from the crown on its logo for all promotional materials related to the resort island. The president of Real Madrid, Florentino Pérez, dutifully complied.
The cross was first added to Real Madrid’s logo in 1920, when King Alfonso XIII granted the club his royal patronage. The word Real is Spanish for royal, and the cross still forms an integral part of the coat of arms of the King of Spain.
Source: The Cutting Edge News